Best-selling author of more than 200 books, former professor and co-founder of Liberty University Dr. Elmer Towns will release his first ever sports fiction novel, titled “Grandpa Pitched for the Cubs,” May 15, 2015.

The novel, published by Heritage Builders Publishing, is a story about a man named Remle Noel who has always dreamed of pitching baseball professionally. His dream becomes a reality at a late age, when he is a grandfather. Remle is also a preacher, and the story tells of his struggle to hide his successful baseball career from his family and church.

However, Remle also has a dark secret in his past that is threatening to resurface and ruin both his careers.

Towns shared his inspiration for the story, speaking of his love for baseball, and more specifically, his love for the Chicago Cubs. Towns has been an avid fan of the Cubs since he had moved to Chicago in 1965.

“I wrote (the novel) 20 years ago,” Towns said. “I took (my son) all the time to the Cubs games. … I always thought, ‘I’d like to play baseball,’ (but) I don’t think I was good enough. … I (was) living a dream when I wrote the book.”

Although Towns began writing the story two decades ago, he was able to finish and finalize the novel during his sabbatical in 2014.

Towns, who has won second place in a fiction novel contest for Virginia two years in a row, said his favorite part of writing “Grandpa Pitched for the Cubs” was keeping things a surprise until the end of the story. From beginning to end, the plot unfolds with one surprise after another, keeping the reader guessing until the conclusion.

According to Towns, there are a lot of parallels drawn between multiple characteristics of the story and Towns’ personal life. For example, the main character’s name, Remle, is “Elmer” spelled backwards. Also, the name Night-Train Hatch, a police inspector whose character is prominent in the novel, is based off of one of Town’s former
teachers.

Towns has two more historical fiction novels coming out next year. One will be on the life of Job’s wife from the Old Testament. The second is based on the wise men of the New Testament and concerns the birth of Christ.

Look for “Grandpa Pitched for the Cubs” in bookstores soon.
RITTER is a news reporter.

Author and Liberty University Co-founder Elmer Towns has completed his newest work since the announcement of his sabbatical during the fall of 2013 – “The Prayer Bible,” which will be released April 27.

According to the book’s press release, Towns co-wrote this prayer Bible with the late Dr. Roy Zuck. Towns translated each verse of the New Testament and the poetical books of the Bible into a prayer, and Zuck translated the remaining books of the Old Testament.

“In addition to paraphrasing each Bible verse into a prayer, there is a prayer attached to every chapter and a footnote for every verse that applies it to prayer principles,” the press release states.

Towns stated in an email that he believes “The Prayer Bible” will make publishing history.

“There have been all types of translations and paraphrases of the Bible, but never has anyone attempted to turn every verse in the Bible into a prayer and then reinforce the verses with footnotes explaining the various principles and methods of prayer,” Towns said.

This prayer Bible will allow readers to pray the words of scripture as they read, the press release states.

“My prayer is that this Bible will revolutionize the life of Christians who read the scriptures,” Towns said. “They no longer will just read the Bible, but they will talk to God as they read the scriptures. And when believers pray scripturally, obviously they will pray better.”

In advance of its release Sept. 16, 2014, the book will be promoted with various things, such as a DVD featuring some of America’s leading evangelical leaders read aloud excerpts from the book, radio interviews with Towns and an opportunity to receive a personalized, autographed copy of “The Prayer Bible.”

According to the press release, those interested can download free samples of “The Prayer Bible” through elmertowns.com and “change your spiritual life and your church.”

10 Books by Towns:

1. Daniel Fast for Spiritual Breakthrough
2. The Ultimate Guide to the Names of God
3. Bible Answers for Almost All Your Questions
4. Fasting with the Lord’s Prayer
5. How to Pray when You Don’t Know What to Say
6. My Angel Named Herman
7. The Beginners Guide to Fasting
8. 365 Ways to Know God
9. Praying the 23rd Psalm
10. Walking with Giants: An Extraordinary Journey of an Ordinary Man